Public participation key to achieving carbon neutrality in Manipur: Environment director

Manipur has undertaken a series of initiatives aimed at making the State carbon-neutral, Director of Environment and Climate Change T. Brajakumar Singh said on June 5, while stressing the need for public participation to achieve the objective.
 

Speaking at a World Environment Day programme organised at the City Convention Centre, Dr. Singh said the Manipur State Action Plan on Climate Change had been formulated with an emphasis on science-based policies and evidence-based decision-making to address climate change.
 

The event was held under the theme, "Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future."
 

Dr. Singh said scientific research would be translated into accessible language to facilitate informed policy decisions and strengthen climate adaptation and mitigation efforts. He added that the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change was working with the health, water, agriculture and forest sectors to develop climate-resilient practices.
 

Highlighting wetland conservation efforts in the State, he said the Union government had identified 132 wetlands in Manipur through satellite imagery. Of these, 71 wetlands had been identified and mapped through field surveys.
 

The remaining wetlands would be identified in collaboration with the Manipur State Remote Sensing Centre and the National Informatics Centre (NIC), he said.
 

According to Dr. Singh, conservation of the 71 identified wetlands could help protect around 1.8% of the State's geographical area. He called for collective efforts to preserve wetlands, describing mountains, rivers and wetlands as valuable natural assets that have faced degradation over the years.
 

"Mountains, rivers and wetlands are real assets bestowed by our forefathers. But they have been degraded due to various factors, resulting in numerous consequences. It is high time to conserve these natural resources," he said.
 

Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam, who attended the event as the chief guest, said awareness campaigns alone would not be sufficient to tackle climate change unless they were accompanied by concrete action.

"Every small action to conserve the environment is more meaningful than just spreading awareness," he said, urging people to contribute actively to environmental protection efforts.
 

Awards were presented during the programme to individuals and organisations for their contributions to environmental conservation and climate action. Prizes were also distributed to students who secured top positions in symposium and essay competitions organised in connection with World Environment Day.